All posts by Intellicurious

News, Views and Reviews for the Intellectually Curious

Rent Inflation: The Rise Of New ‘Luxury’ Apartments

CNBC (April 2, 2023) – An apartment building boom is unfolding in cities across the U.S. Many of the new units come with “luxury” amenities, like pools and fast-access to transportation. Experts say the uptick in supply is welcome news, but won’t ease rent inflation anytime soon.

Chapters: 0:00 — Introduction 1:09 — Chapter 1: “Luxury” 5:42 — Chapter 2: Policy 9:55 — Chapter 3: Increasing supply

As a result, many cities remain stuck in a price-elevating housing shortage. Washington lawmakers are now scrutinizing regulations that slow the pace of homebuilding, in an attempt to slow rent inflation.

Views: Bison In Antelope Island State Park, Utah

CBS Sunday Morning (April 2, 2023) – We leave you this Sunday morning with Bison still enjoying the snow at Utah’s Antelope Island. Videographer: Lee McEachern.

Antelope Island State Park in Utah is home to free-ranging bison, mule deer, bighorn sheep, pronghorn (antelope), and many other desert animals. Millions of birds congregate along the shores surrounding the island, offering unparalleled opportunities for birding. Year-round Interpretive opportunities round out the Antelope Island experience.

Events: ‘Il Ballo del Doge’ Masquerade Ball In Venice

CBS Sunday Morning (April 2, 2023) – The opulence of a masked ball in the Italian city of Venice during Carnival must be seen to be believed. Correspondent Seth Doane joins revelers, including a couple who traveled from Florida to attend a lavish costume party, “Il Ballo del Doge”; and talks with designer Antonia Sautter, who has created ever-more extravagant costumes for this Venetian tradition dating back centuries.

Weather: Why Tornadoes Hit U.S. Midwest & South

DW News (April 2, 2023) – At least 21 people have been killed and many more injured as storms batter the South and Midwest. Authorities in Arkansas have declared an emergency after multiple tornadoes tore through the state.

Infografik - Anatomy of a tornado

Tornadoes develop from severe thunderstorms in warm, moist, unstable air along and ahead of cold fronts. Such thunderstorms also may generate large hail and damaging winds. When intense springtime storm systems produce large, persistent areas that support tornado development, major outbreaks can occur.

Small Town Nature: Red Squirrels Thriving In UK

BBC Earth (April 2, 2023) – Red squirrel populations are declining in the UK, with deadly diseases such as squirrelpox threatening their survival. But in the small town of Formby, people are coming together to help secure their future.

Hosted by wildlife presenter Hannah Stitfall (@hannahstitfall via IG).

Sunday Morning: Stories From London And Zürich

April 2, 2023: Emma Nelson is joined by Enrico Franceschini, Vincent McAviney in Zürich and Tyler Brûlé in Tokyo.

Art Exhibitions: ‘HILMA AF KLINT & PIET MONDRIAN – FORMS OF LIFE’ At The Tate

Tate Modern – Explore the powerful work of two groundbreaking modern artists, a unique chance to discover the visionary work of Swedish painter Hilma af Klint and experience Dutch painter Piet Mondrian’s influential art in a new light.

Hilma af Klint The Ten Largest, Group IV No.2, Childhood 1907 Hilma af Klint Foundation

Although they never met, af Klint and Mondrian both invented their own languages of abstract art rooted in nature. At the heart of both of their artistic journeys was a shared desire to understand the forces behind life on earth.

HILMA AF KLINT & PIET MONDRIANFORMS OF LIFE

20 APRIL – 3 SEPTEMBER 2023

Hilma af Klint and Piet Mondrian: Forms of Life by Nabila Abdel Nabi |  Goodreads

Best known for his abstract work, Mondrian in fact began his career – like af Klint – as a landscape painter. Alongside Mondrian’s iconic grids, you will see the rarely exhibited paintings of flowers he continued to create throughout his life. Also on display will be enigmatic works by af Klint in which natural forms become a pathway to abstraction.

Both artists shared an interest in new ideas in spirituality, scientific discovery and philosophy. Af Klint was also a medium, and this exhibition showcases the large-scale, otherworldly masterpieces she believed were commissioned by higher powers.

Travel: A Walking Tour Of Hội An In Central Vietnam

Morning Nhu (April 2, 2023) – Hội An is a city on Vietnam’s central coast known for its well-preserved Ancient Town, cut through with canals. The former port city’s melting-pot history is reflected in its architecture, a mix of eras and styles from wooden Chinese shophouses and temples to colorful French colonial buildings, ornate Vietnamese tube houses and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge with its pagoda. 

Front Page: The New York Times – April 2, 2023

Image

How Alvin Bragg Resurrected the Case Against Donald Trump

Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, leaves his office after a grand jury indicted former President Donald J. Trump over a $130,000 hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.
CREDITDAVE SANDERS FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES

A year ago, the investigation into the former president appeared from the outside to be over. But a series of crucial turning points led to this week’s indictment.

Venice Is Saved! Woe Is Venice.

CREDIT

After centuries of flooding, Venice has at long last raised seawalls to save itself from high water.

China Draws Lessons From Russia’s Losses in Ukraine, and Its Gains

With an eye on a possible conflict over Taiwan, analysts have scrutinized the war for insights ranging from the importance of supply lines to the power of nuclear threats.

A Chicago Mayoral Hopeful Who Took on Hard-to-Fix Schools Faces a Political Shift

Paul Vallas has long been a supporter of charter schools. He is running against Brandon Johnson, an ex-teacher with a different approach.

The Arctic Circle: China’s Emerging ‘Polar Silk Road’

DW Documentary (April 1, 2023) – Following the rise of China’s power in Africa, are we on the verge of seeing a Chinese Arctic? Certainly, the country is seeking to expand its influence in this geopolitically important area. The US is worried, while Russia smells business.

But what are China’s plans for the region? In 2013, the “Yong Sheng” made history: It was the first Chinese cargo ship to reach Europe via the Arctic. This promising route, which Beijing soon dubbed the “Polar Silk Road,” made the “Yong Sheng” a symbol of Chinese ambitions in the far north. Increasingly self-confident, China is now expanding its sphere of influence bit by bit in the Arctic – a place of high geopolitical significance.

The country’s influence is spreading, with projects that include investments in gas resources in the Russian Arctic on the Yamal Peninsula. In January 2018, China initiated the “Polar Silk Road” project. Now, the country is pursuing a rapprochement with Iceland and Norway through businessmen. China maintains a research station on Spitsbergen and has even started to define itself publicly as a country “close to the Arctic” – a status from which China hopes to derive new rights.

The Arctic seems a long way from Beijing. But Chinese president Xi Jinping has understood how important this region is. China’s need for resources is driving Xi Jinping to negotiate with the major Arctic powers, who largely view him with suspicion. The new geopolitics of the Arctic are playing out not only in world capitals and in the media, but also on the ground: Emissaries, entrepreneurs, and mediators are traveling to the strategic region.

This group includes Chinese nationals as well as Norwegians, Icelanders, Swedes and Americans. China is expanding. After “Chinafrica,” will we now also speak of “Chinarctica”? China, it is said, has time on its side. And in the meantime it is openly dreaming of superpower status. The Americans are worried, the Europeans are hesitant and the Russians are eager for investments. But what are China’s real goals?